U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District Welcome to the official page of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District.

Some construction sites build up. Some dig down. Some do both: enter cofferdams.A cofferdam is a temporary structure bui...
06/12/2026

Some construction sites build up. Some dig down. Some do both: enter cofferdams.

A cofferdam is a temporary structure built in or around water so crews can create a dry, controlled work area inside it. It's like an anti-bathub: it keeps water out so engineers, equipment operators and construction teams can safely do their work.

Across the , cofferdams are essential for major navigation, flood-risk reduction and infrastructure projects. They allow teams to inspect, repair, demolish or build structures that normally live in very wet places, which is inconvenient, but we can engineer around that problem.

Cofferdams can be made from sheet pile, rock, earth, concrete or a combination of materials, depending on the site conditions, river levels, current, project needs and safety requirements. Once the cofferdam is in place, crews pump water out from the enclosed area, monitor conditions and get to work.

They may be temporary, but cofferdams do permanent-project work: helping keep critical infrastructure moving, supporting safe construction and giving our teams room to build the systems communities and commerce depend on.

PRESS RELEASE: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District will waive day-use fees at all district-operated rec...
06/11/2026

PRESS RELEASE: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District will waive day-use fees at all district-operated recreation areas in observance of the Army Corps’ birthday, June 16.

The waiver covers fees for boat launch ramps and swimming beaches. The waiver does not apply to camping and camping-related services, or fees for specialized facilities (group picnic shelters) and events. Other agencies managing recreation areas on Corps of Engineers lands are encouraged, but not required, to offer the waiver in the areas they manage.

FULL RELEASE HERE: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/567321/us-army-corps-engineers-waives-day-use-fees-recreation-areas-observance-army-corps-birthday

What's this eyeball-looking-thing doing bolted to a lock wall? It's not watching you - it's harnessing the speed of ligh...
06/10/2026

What's this eyeball-looking-thing doing bolted to a lock wall?

It's not watching you - it's harnessing the speed of light to measure whether a century-old hunk of concrete is moving or not.

This is a surveying prism, which is part of the Automated Motorized Total Station System, or AMTS (because that's a far catchier name for a system using eyeball-adjacent devices than "Engineering Yardage Evaluator").

The AMTS sends light waves to the prisms around the clock, then measures how long that light takes to bounce back. Since we know the speed of light, the system can calculate distance with extremely high precision.

The Corps of Engineers sometimes uses these prisms for major work at lock projects so if part of the structure shifts during the work, even by a few millimeters, the AMTS notices and alerts the project team. That gives the team time to respond, keep the project on track, and help keep the public safe.

Fun fact: for extremely precise survey work, surveyors have to calibrate their instruments for temperature and barometric pressure because those factors affect the amount of air molecules present. Air molecules interrupt the light beam, which affects the light's speed, which affects measurement accuracy.

Summer is here and in Pittsburgh, we don't just beat the heat...we defeat the heat.**"Defeat" is a strong word. But we e...
06/09/2026

Summer is here and in Pittsburgh, we don't just beat the heat...we defeat the heat.*

*"Defeat" is a strong word. But we encourage practices to stay safe in the heat!

Wherever you adventure, here are some essential tips to ensure you stay cool and safe outdoors:

🌊 Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!
- Drink water regularly: ensure you stay hydrated by drinking water consistently, even if you don't feel thirsty.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine: these can dehydrate you more quickly.
- Pre-hydrate: drink plenty of water before engaging in outdoor activities to stay ahead of the heat.

🌞 Beat (Defeat) the Heat
- Use sunscreen: apply SPF 30+ sunscreen and reapply every two hours.
- Seek shade: try to stay in shaded areas between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to avoid the peak sun intensity.
- Dress appropriately: wear light, loose-fitting clothes, hats, and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun.

🚨 Recognize Heat Illnesses
- Heat exhaustion: look out for heavy sweating, weakness, and nausea. If you experience these symptoms, find a cool place and hydrate immediately.
- Heat stroke: this is a severe condition characterized by a high body temperature and a rapid pulse. It requires emergency medical attention – call 911!

🌊 Water Safety
- Swim smart: only swim in designated areas and never swim alone.
- Boat safely: always wear life jackets and ensure you have safety gear on board.

📲 Stay Informed
- Check the weather: stay updated on heat waves and storms.
- Follow local guidelines: adhere to local safety guidelines for swimming and boating conditions.

Stay cool, stay safe, and enjoy your summer at all the fantastic recreation sites within the Pittsburgh District!

Find a location near you: https://www.recreation.gov

Braddock Locks and Dam has been holding it down on the Monongahela River since 1906, helping keep navigation moving year...
06/08/2026

Braddock Locks and Dam has been holding it down on the Monongahela River since 1906, helping keep navigation moving year-round between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Fairmont, West Virginia - but the area's history résumé that is goes back further.

Braddock’s Field saw the Battle of the Monongahela in 1755, became a Whiskey Rebellion rally point in 1794, and later hosted Camp Copeland, where Union soldiers trained during the Civil War.

Today, Braddock L&D continues supporting southwestern Pennsylvania’s industrial backbone, annually passing more than 9.5 million tons of commodities to support the regional and the national economy (as well as providing a scenic view for the rollercoaster riders at Kennywood across the river).

Fun fact: Kennywood opened in 1898, so technically the theme park has seen three generations of river navigation facilities.

Lock Person A: "Hey, the miter gate rubbing fender is broken and we need to replace it."Lock Person B: "I see only a nor...
06/05/2026

Lock Person A: "Hey, the miter gate rubbing fender is broken and we need to replace it."
Lock Person B: "I see only a normal miter gate rubbing fender that doesn't work anymore."
A: "…so let's replace it."
B: "No. Let's replace it in such a way that everyone learns something."
A: "Like a meeting?"
B: "No one ever has ever learned anything in a meeting."*
..which is possibly how a conversation at Dashields Locks and Dam may have gone when the crew recently found a damaged miter gate rubbing fender and made the most of it by turning it into an on-the-job training opportunity.

The maintenance crew fabricated a new rubbing fender to replace the damaged section, while the lock crew jumped in to support the work and build hands-on experience. Lock Leader Derrick Christian helped guide the effort, Operator Christian Lightner sharpened his skills, and IMTS trainee Ethan Trehar got real-world experience on the kind of work that keeps navigation moving.

Rubbing fenders help protect critical lock infrastructure from the daily wear-and-tear of river traffic. It’s basically one of those pieces nobody notices until it stops doing its job, which is a rude (but unsurprising) position for a rubbing fender to take.

Great work by the Dashields team for turning a needed fender-bender repair into employee development while completing critical task!

*Creative reimagining of how that conversation may have gone.

No matter how strong of a swimmer, water can always get the better of you. The Pittsburgh District is dedicated to provi...
06/04/2026

No matter how strong of a swimmer, water can always get the better of you.

The Pittsburgh District is dedicated to providing safe recreational opportunities at our lakes and rivers. Our team works tirelessly to maintain safe conditions and educate the public on water safety. This summer, recreate the right way by ensuring everyone in your group practices water safety.

At some reservoirs, the district has a "life jacket loaner station" that does...about what it says on the box. Make sure you grab one if you forgot yours at home!

Visit recreation.gov to find an area near you!

06/03/2026

The playground is open at Loyalhanna Lake! Our reservoirs may be here for flood-risk reduction, but they come with plenty of secondary benefits - recreation is just one of many.

The present Smithfield Street Bridge is the third bridge to occupy that location and is the second-oldest steel bridge i...
06/02/2026

The present Smithfield Street Bridge is the third bridge to occupy that location and is the second-oldest steel bridge in the United States. The first bridge, constructed of wood, was built in 1818 and was destroyed in Pittsburgh’s Great Fire of 1845. The second bridge, a wire-rope suspension bridge, proved inadequate for both bridge and river traffic, leading to the construction of the current bridge, which opened to traffic in 1883.

The Smithfield Street Bridge is the second-to-last bridge on the Monongahela River before it joins the Allegheny River to form the Ohio River at Pittsburgh’s Point. As it did in 1908, when the top photograph was taken, the bridge’s stone masonry piers continue to witness the evolution of the river and the region. Likewise, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District has adapted to meet changing needs over time.

Today, we stand ready to meet the challenges of the future by advancing inland navigation through larger lock chambers, developing innovative flood-risk-reduction solutions, and continuing to “Build Infrastructure Not Paperwork.” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Headquarters

It's Monday, so why not remind everyone how much the region has changed in the last 63 years by showing a map older than...
06/01/2026

It's Monday, so why not remind everyone how much the region has changed in the last 63 years by showing a map older than Star Wars?

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District's cartographers charted our territory in similar style for about 40 years, with a dotted line and yellow halo surrounding the district. Soon after this map was published in 1963, our downstream boundary was adjusted to include the then-new Hannibal Locks and Dam near New Martinsville, West Virginia. Since that adjustment, the Pittsburgh District’s boundary has not changed.

There are many interesting things to note in this map: the legend on the right side of the page offers an explanation of symbols, the shaded areas around our reservoirs are drainage basins - this is the area that eventually drains to each dam.

The green-colored reservoirs were under construction when this map was drawn. Near Ravenna, Ohio, West Branch Reservoir was later renamed after U.S. Representative Michael J. Kirwan.

The red-colored reservoirs were authorized by law but not yet under construction in February 1963. Some of these, like Eagle Creek Reservoir, Redbank Reservoir and Muddy Creek Reservoir, were never built. Woodcock Creek Lake opened in the 1970s, and Union City Dam was built without a permanent pool. Stonewall Jackson Lake replaced earlier plans for West Fork River Reservoir, above Weston, West Virginia, instead of below it.

In our navigation mission, you’ll see many locks and dams that no longer exist. As part of a regional effort along the entire Ohio River, all numbered locks and dams were replaced by larger structures, like Hannibal and Pike Island.

Address

1000 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA
15222

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+14123957500

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District:

Shortcuts

Share

Category